Bangalore: Legendary playback singer Manna Dey passed away early yesterday after prolonged illness at a private hospital here. He was given a tearful adieu by his fans, family and friends.
The legend died around 4am in Narayana Hospital, K S Vasuki, the hospital’s spokesperson, told IANS. He was 94.
Braving a downpour, hundreds of people, including youths thronged Ravindra Kalakshetra (theatre) in the city centre to pay tributes to Mannada after his frail body was brought from the hospital in the southern outer suburb.
Later, Dey was given a tearful farewell as his mortal remains were consigned to the flames by his younger son-in-law Gyanranjan Dev in keeping with Hindu rites at a crematorium in the northwest suburb of the city.
About 500 people, including relatives, friends and fans were present at the cremation.
“A few members of the Bangalore Bengali Association sang a song penned by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the funeral,” Dey’s friend Runa Roy told IANS. Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj and chief minister Siddaramaiah conveyed their condolences to his bereaved family.
The nonagenarian multi-lingual singer is survived by two daughters — Rama and Shumita, sons in-laws and grandchildren.
His wife Sulochana Kumaran died from cancer here in January 2012. IANS
